SubhanAllah, this khutba or ones like it need to be relayed to our masses. I have heard non-Muslims using the words of other imams/sheikhs to justify their beliefs that Muslims are violent. In some ways, you can’t blame them for their misguided view of us…well, yes, you can because they are searching for evil in our religion and pounce on anything they can twist.

I wish there was a clearer definition of the verse for the daraba. I have heard Sheikh Hamza say it is a light strike (for a reminder) and this one was to rise up to show. I guess it lies in the shades of meanings in between. Alhumdulillah.

Mashaallah ONe needs to study the Arabic language ,the metaphors and the nuances the epistemology befor you jump to conclusion. Dont blame Islam for your ignorance ,blame yourself .This khutba is exemplary -no none has in the last six decades clarified these verses as succinctly as Sh Hamza .It is human nature to justify the means to an end.I believe every Imam needs to read this transcriptand study these verses.
Mahmood khan .Sydney

Alhamdulillah! Sh. Hamza once again speaks to a very topical subject. I am a Muslim, and a social worker who has worked in the field of domestic violence for over 15 years. I agree with all of the teaching here in this lecture–It is so edifying to hear Sh. Hamza talk on this subject..and to condemn domestic violence so thoroughly, with great knowledge of the language of the Quran. I have to respectfully disagree on one statement regarding the source of domestic violence. He inferred it was an upsurge of anger and then bamm, a punch or hit. Domestic violence does not occur because of anger or lack of self control. On the contrary, it is the cyclical, systematic and premeditated use of violence in order to gain power and control over the spouse. If one committed acts of violence when angry, one would be hitting everyone he/she came into contact with…domestic violence occurs as a planned event since often the abuser chooses the time and place..where on the body he will hit, and avoids witnesses to this act–that is why he often isolates his wife from her family or friends who can help her. If it was a knee jerk thing, as the Shaykh suggested, he would be hitting everyone in sight..the postman, the bank teller, the slow cashier, etc. etc..anyone who sets him off and makes him mad. Domestic violence is about using violence in order to gain power over the wife…a result of male entitlement which has Christian, patriarchal origins that have become ingrained in our society.
Salamulaykum,
Maryam Hajar

JazakAllaah khair for the wealth of information you have provided. I have always believed that when our greatest scholars will conjoin forces with the professionals in our community, we will definitely achieve tangible results.

However, I feel that Sheikh Hamza was referring to something else. There may be some men in the muslim community that are not really the pathological type as you describe, but nonetheless, justify beating women based wrongly on this Ayah. I know men that do not have the habit of beating their wives, but perhaps, have raised a hand or two in extreme anger. I think this is what the Sheikh was referring to and he is just raising a point of how can those men justify this behaviour based on this ayah.

JA sisters,
I too had thought Sheikh Hamza was very thoughtful on the topic but that there were types/versions of domestic violence that would have benenfited from being mentioned herein. I would love to hear a khotba re: verbal and mental abuse, which I believe also happens very often but that most in society don’t see as real abuse.